SOLUTION: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm squared. What were the dimensions of the original square?

Question 114255: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm squared. What were the dimensions of the original square?
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = the original length of each side of the square.
The original area is then:

Decreasing the sides by 2 cm. (x-2) results in the area being decreased by 36 sq. cm. (A - 36), so you can write:
for the new area. Substitute and solve for x.
Simplify.
Subtract from both sides.
Subtract 4 from both sides.
Divide both sides by -4.
cm.
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